U.S. patent application number 14/942413 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-10 for electric switching device with enhanced lorentz force bias.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH. Invention is credited to Alexander Neuhaus.
Application Number | 20160071677 14/942413 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48482957 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160071677 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neuhaus; Alexander |
March 10, 2016 |
Electric Switching Device with Enhanced Lorentz Force Bias
Abstract
An electric switch is disclosed. The electric switch has a first
terminal, a second terminal, a contact sub-assembly comprising at
least two contact members disposed in a current path between the
first and second terminals, the contact sub-assembly having a
connecting position in which the contact members contact each other
and an interrupting position in which the contact members are
spaced apart from each other a Lorentz force generator comprising a
first conductor member and a second conductor member, and at least
one support Lorentz force generator. The Lorentz force generator
and the at least one support Lorentz force generator both bias the
contact sub-assembly into the connecting position, the current path
extending from the first terminal to the second terminal through
the contact sub-assembly in the connecting position.
Inventors: |
Neuhaus; Alexander; (Vienna,
AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH |
Vienna |
|
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tyco Electronics Austria
GmbH
Vienna
AT
|
Family ID: |
48482957 |
Appl. No.: |
14/942413 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2014/059404 |
May 8, 2014 |
|
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|
14942413 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
335/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 50/60 20130101;
H01H 50/36 20130101; H01H 1/54 20130101; H01H 50/18 20130101; H01H
50/54 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01H 50/60 20060101
H01H050/60; H01H 50/18 20060101 H01H050/18; H01H 50/36 20060101
H01H050/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 24, 2013 |
EP |
13169164.4 |
Claims
1. An electric switch, comprising: a first terminal; a second
terminal; a contact sub-assembly comprising at least two contact
members disposed in a current path between the first and second
terminals, the contact sub-assembly having a connecting position in
which the contact members contact each other and an interrupting
position in which the contact members are spaced apart from each
other; a Lorentz force generator comprising a first conductor
member and a second conductor member; and at least one support
Lorentz force generator; wherein the Lorentz force generator and
the at least one support Lorentz force generator both bias the
contact sub-assembly into the connecting position, the current path
extending from the first terminal to the second terminal through
the contact sub-assembly in the connecting position.
2. The electric switch according to claim 1, wherein the Lorentz
force generator generates a Lorentz force acting on the first and
second conductor members to bias the contact sub-assembly into the
connecting position and provide a contact force at the contact
sub-assembly.
3. The electric switch according to claim 2, wherein the at least
one support Lorentz force generator provides an additional contact
force at the contact sub-assembly.
4. The electric switch according to claim 3, wherein a first
support Lorentz force generator comprises the second conductor
member and a third conductor member.
5. The electric switch according to claim 4, wherein the second
conductor member is deflected by the generated Lorentz force.
6. The electric switch according to claim 5, wherein the second
conductor member has a fixed end and a moveable end opposite the
fixed end.
7. The electric switch according to claim 6, wherein a contact
member is disposed on the moveable end.
8. The electric switch according to claim 7, wherein the third
conductor member is disposed in the current path between the
contact sub-assembly and the second terminal.
9. The electric switch according to claim 8, wherein the first
conductor member and second conductor member are disposed in the
current path between the first terminal and the contact
sub-assembly.
10. The electric switch according to claim 9, wherein the first,
second and third conductor members are all parallel and adjacent to
each other, and the first conductor member is physically positioned
between the second and third conductor members.
11. The electric switch according to claim 10, further comprising
an isolation barrier positioned between the first conductor member
and the third conductor member.
12. The electric switch according to claim 8, wherein the first
conductor member and second conductor member are disposed in the
current path between the contact sub-assembly and the third
conductor member.
13. The electric switch according to claim 12, wherein the first,
second and third conductor members are all parallel and adjacent to
each other, and the second conductor member is physically
positioned between the first and third conductor members.
14. The electric switch according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second conductor members are fixed to one another.
15. The electric switch according to claim 5, further comprising a
second support Lorentz force generator, the second support Lorentz
force generator comprises the second conductor member and a fourth
conductor member.
16. The electric switch according to claim 15, wherein the first
conductor member and second conductor member are disposed in the
current path between the first terminal and the contact
sub-assembly, and the third conductor member is disposed in the
current path between the contact sub-assembly and the fourth
conductor member.
17. The electric switch according to claim 16, wherein the first,
second, third, and fourth conductor members are all parallel and
adjacent to each other, and the second conductor member is
physically positioned between the first and fourth conductor
members.
18. The electric switch according to claim 17, further comprising
an isolation barrier positioned between the first conductor member
and the third conductor member.
19. The electric switch according to claim 15, wherein the first
conductor member and second conductor member are disposed in the
current path between the contact sub-assembly and the third
conductor member, and the fourth conductor member is disposed in
the current path between the third conductor member and a
terminal.
20. The electric switch according to claim 19, wherein the first,
second, third, and fourth conductor members are all parallel and
adjacent to each other, and the first conductor member is
physically positioned between the second and fourth conductor
members.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of PCT International
Application No. PCT/EP2014/059404 filed May 8, 2014, which claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to European Patent No.
13169164.4 filed May 24, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an electric switch, and more
particularly, to an electric switch having a Lorentz force
bias.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Electric switches, such as relays, are generally known from
the prior art. If the contact members are in the connecting
position, a current path extends continuously through the electric
switch and a current flows through the electric switch along the
current path. If the contact members are moved apart, the current
path and thus the current flowing through the electric switch is
disrupted.
[0004] In electric switches, an electromagnetic repulsive force
arises between contact members because currents flow in opposite
directions in portions where the contact members contact each
other. The electromagnetic repulsive force acts to separate the
contact members. To avoid an accidental separation due to
electromagnetic repulsive forces, it is known to bias the contact
members into the connecting position by, for example, pressure
springs or a Lorentz force. The electromagnetic repulsive force,
however, increases as the flowing current increases; the elastic
force of a biasing spring or the Lorentz force has to be increased
in accordance with the increase in the current value.
[0005] The body size of the contact spring or the length of the
conductor members of the Lorentz force generator thus increases
with higher transmitted currents. As these sizes increase, the size
of the electric switch increases, and correspondingly, the cost to
manufacture the electric switch also increases. Electric switches
are mass-produced articles which need to be reliable, of simple
structure, and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY
[0006] An object of the invention, among others, is to provide an
electric switch that can transmit high currents without increasing
the size of the electric switch. The disclosed electric switch has
a first terminal, a second terminal, a contact sub-assembly
comprising at least two contact members disposed in a current path
between the first and second terminals, the contact sub-assembly
having a connecting position in which the contact members contact
each other and an interrupting position in which the contact
members are spaced apart from each other a Lorentz force generator
comprising a first conductor member and a second conductor member,
and at least one support Lorentz force generator. The Lorentz force
generator and the at least one support Lorentz force generator both
bias the contact sub-assembly into the connecting position, the
current path extending from the first terminal to the second
terminal through the contact sub-assembly in the connecting
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying figures, of which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an electric switch in a
first embodiment according to the invention in an interrupting
position;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the electric switch of
FIG. 1 in a connecting position;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the electric switch of
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective oblique view of the electric switch
of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an electric switch
according to a second embodiment of the invention in a connecting
position;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of an electric switch
according to a third embodiment of the invention in a connecting
position; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an electric switch
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a connecting
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)
[0015] The invention is described in greater detail below with
reference to embodiments of an electric switch. This invention may,
however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete and still fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art.
[0016] The electric switch 1, according to a first embodiment of
the invention, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The electric switch 1
includes a first terminal 2, a second terminal 4, a contact
sub-assembly 6, a Lorentz force generator 18, a support Lorentz
force generator 32, a crossover conductor 40, and an isolation
barrier 44. The major components of the invention will now be
described in greater detail.
[0017] The electric switch 1 comprises a first terminal 2, a second
terminal 4, and a contact sub-assembly 6 disposed between the first
terminal 2 and the second terminal 4. The contact sub-assembly
includes at least two contact members 8, 10. The contact members 8,
10 may face one another, as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0018] The electric switch 1 further comprises a Lorentz force
generator 18, which may be located in series to the contact
sub-assembly 6. The Lorentz force generator 18 comprises at least
two conductor members 20, 22. The at least two conductor members
20, 22 of the Lorentz force generator 18 may extend parallel and
adjacent to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A proximal end
of the conductor member 22 is connected to the first terminal
2.
[0019] The deflectable conductor member 20 is fixed at one end 26
to the distal end of conductor member 22, while the other end 28 is
moveable and connected to the contact member 10. In FIGS. 3 and 4,
the deflectable conductor member 20 is shown in more detail. The
deflectable conductor member 20 may be divided into two or more
parallel sections. Each of the sections is provided with one
contact member 10 on its moveable end 28. At a mid-section 46, the
deflectable conductor member 20 may have an area of increased
deflectability. If the deflectable conductor member 20 comprises
two or more layers 48, 50, the layers may be separated at the
mid-section 46, e.g. by bending the layer 50 while keeping the
layer 48 straight. This will ensure high flexibility of deflectable
conductor member 20 in spite of the large cross-sections needed for
high current.
[0020] The support Lorentz force generator 32 comprises at least
two conductor members 20, 34. The at least two conductor members
20, 34 of the support Lorentz force generator 32 also extend
parallel to each other, and in the configuration shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, all conductor members 20, 22 of the Lorentz force generator
18 and all conductor members 20, 34 of the at least one support
Lorentz force generator 32 extend parallel to each other. Conductor
member 34 is connected at a proximal end to the second terminal
4.
[0021] A crossover conductor 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
connects the contact member 8 of the contact sub-assembly 6 and the
distal end of the conductor member 34. As can be seen in FIGS. 3
and 4, the crossover conductor 40 is supporting and, at this
position, electrically contacted to the contact members 8 of the
contact sub-assembly 6. The crossover conductor 40 then bridges and
passes along the deflectable conductor member 20, the conductor
member 22 and an isolation barrier 44 (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4)
up to the point where it is connected to the conductor member 34 of
the supporting Lorentz force generator 32.
[0022] The isolation barrier 44 may be formed interposed between
the conductor members 22 and 34; the isolation barrier 44 is shown
as a wall in the figures, but one skilled in the art would
appreciate that the isolation barrier 44 could be a variety of
possible shapes and bodies.
[0023] The operation of the electric switch 1 will now be
described.
[0024] The contact sub-assembly 6 may be moved from an interrupting
position 14 shown in FIG. 1, in which the contact members 8, 10 are
spaced apart from each other, to a connecting position 12 shown in
FIG. 2. In the connecting position 12, the contact members 8, 10
contact each other. In the connecting position 12, a current path
16, indicated by the small arrows in the figures, extends between
the first and the second terminals 2, 4. Thus, an electric current
may flow between the first terminal 2 and the second terminal 4
along the current path 16. In the interrupting position 14, the
current path is interrupted at the contact sub-assembly 6, whose
contact members 8, 10 are spaced apart from each other, and no
current may flow between the terminals 2, 4.
[0025] The Lorentz force generator 18 may be located in the current
path 16 in front of or behind the contact sub-assembly 6. In the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the Lorentz force generator 18
is located in the current path 16 in front of the contact
sub-assembly 6.
[0026] After the electric switch 1 has been transferred from the
interruption position 14 to the connecting position 12, e.g. by
means of an electromagnetic drive system (not shown), the Lorentz
force generator 18 generates a Lorentz force 24. The conductor
members 20, 22 are located in the current path 16. If the conductor
members 20, 22 are fixed to each other at the fixed end 26 of the
conductor member 20, the conductor members 20, 22 may be connected
in series within the current path 16. If an electric current is
applied along the current path 16, the Lorentz force 24 is
generated, which acts between the conductor members 20, 22.
[0027] The direction of a Lorentz force 24 depends on the direction
of the current in the conductor members 20, 22. If the current is
of the same direction in the conductor members 20, 22, the Lorentz
force 24 will act to attract the conductor members 20, 22 to each
other. In the embodiment shown, the direction of the current in the
conductor member 20 is opposite to the direction of the current in
the conductor member 22, consequently, the Lorentz force 24 will
push the conductor members 20, 22 apart.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at least one of the conductor
members 20, 22 may be configured to be deflected by the Lorentz
force 24 relative to an initial current-less state, which may be
the interrupting position 14 shown in FIG. 1. By way of example
only, it is the conductor member 20 in the embodiment which is
deflected by the Lorentz force 24; the deflection of the conductor
member 20 may in particular be an elastic deformation.
[0029] If the conductor member 20 is deflected by the Lorentz force
24, the moveable end 28, which may be provided with a contact
member 10 of the contact sub-assembly 6, is pressed against the
contact member 8 of the contact sub-assembly 6, thereby biasing the
contact sub-assembly 6 into the connecting position 12 shown in
FIG. 2. The contact force 25 pressing the contact members 8, 10
into contact with each other is thus a result of the Lorentz force
24. In the shown embodiment, the contact member 8 is fixed in
position, i.e. non-moveable.
[0030] Additionally, when a current flows through the contact
sub-assembly 6, an electromagnetic repulsive force 30, shown in
FIG. 2, arises between the contact members 8, 10. The
electromagnetic repulsive force 30 acts to separate the contact
members 8, 10 from each other. Such separation would disrupt the
current path 16 accidentally and generate a switching arc between
the contact members 8, 10, which is to be avoided. While the
maximum Lorentz force 24 that the Lorentz force generator 18 is
capable of generating is limited, for example by the distance
between the conductor members 20, 22 and the length of the two
conductor members 20, 22, the electromagnetic repulsive force 30
continues to rise with increasing currents flowing through the
current path 16. At very high currents flowing through the current
path 16, the electromagnetic repulsive force 30, acting to separate
the contact members 8, 10 from each other, may exceed the Lorentz
force 24 of the Lorentz force generator 18 pressing the contact
members 8, 10 against each other. It is thus desirable to increase
the contact force biasing the contact members 8, 10 of the contact
sub-assembly 6 into the connecting position 12 as far as possible,
so the contact force 25 exceeds the repulsive force 30 and the
electric switch 1 may sustain even very high current values.
[0031] According to the invention, the contact force 25 biasing the
contact sub-assembly 6 into the connecting position 12 generated by
the Lorentz force generator 18 is amplified by means of the least
one support Lorentz force generator 32.
[0032] The support Lorentz force generator 32 comprises at least
two conductor members 20, 34. The conductor members 20, 34 are
located in the current path 16. If a current is applied along the
current path 16, a further Lorentz force, called an enforcing
Lorentz force 36, is generated which acts between the conductor
members 20, 34. In the embodiment shown, the direction of the
current in the conductor member 20 is opposite to the direction of
the current in the conductor member 34. Thus, the enforcing Lorentz
force 36 will also push the contact member 10 against the contact
member 8, thus generating a second component of the contact force
25 and amplifying the contact force 25 biasing the contact
sub-assembly 6 into the connecting position 12. In the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the deflector conductor member 20 is a
joint conductor member 38, since it is a conductor member of the
Lorentz force generator 18 and also a conductor member of the at
least one support Lorentz force generator 32.
[0033] In the shown embodiment, the conductor members 20, 22 of the
Lorentz force generator 18 are connected in series and the
conductor members 20, 34 of the support Lorentz force generator 32
are also connected in series. The conductor members 20, 22 of the
Lorentz force generator 18 extend parallel to each other, which
maximizes the Lorentz force 24 generated. The at least two
conductor members 20, 34 of the support Lorentz force generator 32
also extend parallel to each other, which maximizes the enforcing
Lorentz force 36, thereby maximizing the contact force 25 which is
the result of the combined Lorentz force 24 and enforcing Lorentz
force 36 acting in the same direction on the deflectable conductor
member 20.
[0034] The generated Lorentz force 24, 36 may be increased by
placing the conductor members 20, 22/20, 34 extending adjacent to
each other. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
conductor members 20, 22 of the Lorentz force generator 18 extend
immediately adjacent to each other, thereby maximizing the Lorentz
force 24 generated. Conductor member 34 of the support Lorentz
force generator 32 extends adjacent to the conductor member 22 of
the Lorentz force generator 18 and opposite to the joint conductor
member 38, which is the deflectable conductor member 20. The
conductor member 22 is thus physically positioned between the
conductor member 34 and the conductor member 20. With respect to
the direction of contact force 25 biasing the contact sub-assembly
6 in the connecting position 12, the conductor members 20, 22, 34
are placed adjacent to each other in the arrangement: conductor
member 34 of the support Lorentz force generator 32, conductor
member 22 of the Lorentz force generator 18 and joint conductor
member 38 of the Lorentz force generator 18 and the support Lorentz
force generator 32.
[0035] As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the current is flowing in the
same direction through the conductor members 22 and 34 of the
Lorentz force generator 18 and the support Lorentz force generator
32, respectively. This results in a further by-product Lorentz
force 42, which acts to attract the conductor members 22, 34. To
compensate the undesired by-product Lorentz force 42, the conductor
members 22, 34 may be more rigid than the deflectable conductor
member 20, which has spring-like abilities. The rigid conductor
members 22, 34 may be regarded as a rigid body which does not
deform over the operational range currents of the Lorentz force
generators 18, 32.
[0036] To ensure an isolation of the current running through the
adjacent conductor members 22, 34, the isolation barrier 44 first
isolates the conductor members 22, 34 electrically. Further, the
isolation barrier 44 may be a supporting element compensating and
absorbing the by-product Lorentz force 42. Hence, even if the
conductor members 22, 34 deform under the by-product Lorentz force
42, the supporting element 44 will prevent a short circuit due to
the interposed isolation barrier 44. Alternative embodiments of the
isolation barrier may be at least one isolation post placed where
the by-product Lorentz force 42 results in the largest deformation
of the conductor members 22, 34.
[0037] In the following, alternative embodiments of an electric
switch 1 according to the invention are shown with reference to
FIGS. 5 to 7. In the following, only the differences between the
electric switch 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
1 to 4 and the subsequent embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 will be
described. For elements that are structurally and/or functionally
similar or identical to elements of the previous embodiments, the
same reference signs will be used. To keep the figures simple, some
of the reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to 4 have been omitted in
FIGS. 5 to 7 and the crossover conductors are only schematically
shown as a simple line. All electric switches 1 in the following
FIGS. 5 to 7 are shown in the connecting position 12.
[0038] The second embodiment of the electric switch 1 of the
invention, shown in FIG. 5, comprises a first Lorentz force
generator 18, a deflectable conductor member 20 and a rigid
conductor member 22, as well as a contact sub-assembly 6 having two
contact members 8, 10, similar to the electric switch 1 shown in
FIG. 1. However, the current path 16 is different in that the first
terminal 2 is directly connected with the contact sub-assembly 6,
and then continues, in series, to the deflectable conductor member
20 and the conductor member 22 of the Lorentz force generator
18.
[0039] The support Lorentz force generator 32 comprises the
deflectable conductor member 20, which is hence also a joint
conductor member 38, as well as a conductor member 34. Contrary to
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the conductor member 34 is
physically positioned such that the deflectable conductor member 20
is interposed between the conductor members 22 and 34. For
transferring current from the conductor member 22 to the conductor
member 34, a crossover conductor 40 is used, which may be of
similar design as the crossover conductor 40 shown in FIG. 1 for
bridging the deflectable conductor member 20 and the contact
sub-assembly 6.
[0040] If an electric current is applied along the current path 16,
an enforcing Lorentz force 36 is generated, which acts between the
conductor members 20, 34 of the support Lorentz force generator 32.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the current is of the same
direction as in the conductor members 20, 34. Thus, the support
Lorentz force generator 32 will generate an enforcing Lorentz force
36 that will act to attract the conductor members 20, 34 to each
other, thereby deflecting the deflectable conductor member 20
towards the conductor member 34, resulting in an amplified contact
force 25 biasing the contact sub-assembly into the connecting
position 12. For the sake of simplicity, the by-product Lorentz
force 42 generated between the conductor members 22, 34 is omitted
in FIGS. 5 to 7.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the electric switch 1 of
the present invention. The electric switch 1 of FIG. 6 principally
corresponds to the switch 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
1 to 4. Contrary to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, in the
third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the conductor member 34 is not
directly connected in series with the second terminal 4. Rather, a
second crossover conductor 40' is connecting the conductor member
34 followed by a further conductor member 52, which is in turn
connected to the second terminal 4. The conductor member 52 extends
substantially parallel to the other conductor members 20, 22, 34.
The conductor member 52 is physically positioned, with respect to
the deflectable conductor member 20, opposite to the conductor
member 22, so the conductor member 20 is physically positioned in
between the conductor members 52, 22.
[0042] The conductor member 52 and the deflectable conductor member
20 constitute a second support Lorentz force generator 54. If an
electric current is applied along the current path 16, a second
enforcing Lorentz force 56 is generated, which acts between the
conductor members 52 and 20. Since the current is of the same
direction as in the conductor members 20, 52, the second enforcing
Lorentz force 56 will act to attract the conductor members 20, 52
to each other, resulting in the deformation of the deflectable
conductor member 20 towards the conductor member 52. Thus, the
second enforcing Lorentz force 56 may directly act on the contact
sub-assembly as a further amplifying contact force 25. To keep FIG.
6 simple, the by-product Lorentz forces generated between the
conductor members 22, 34 and 52 are omitted in FIG. 6.
[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the deflectable conductor
member 20 is a joint conductor member 38 of the Lorentz force
generator 18, of the first support Lorentz force generator 32 as
well as of the second support Lorentz force generator 54.
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the electric switch 1 of
the present invention. The electric switch 1 of FIG. 7 principally
corresponds to the switch 1 of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
5. Contrary to the second embodiment of FIG. 5, in the fourth
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the conductor member 34 is not directly
connected in series with the second terminal 4. Rather, a second
crossover conductor 40' is connecting the conductor member 34 with
a further conductor member 52, which is in turn connected to the
second terminal 4. The conductor member 52 extends substantially
parallel to the other conductor members 20, 22, 34. The conductor
member 52 is arranged, with respect to the conductor member 22,
opposite to the deflectable conductor member 20, so the conductor
member 22 is arranged in between the conductor members 52, 20,
similar to the configuration of the Lorentz force generator 18 and
the support Lorentz force generator 32 of FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0045] The conductor member 52 and the deflectable conductor member
20 constitute a second support Lorentz force generator 54. If an
electric current is applied along the current path 16, a second
enforcing Lorentz force 56 is generated, which acts between the
conductor members 52 and 20. Since the current is of opposite
direction in the conductor members 20, 52, the second enforcing
Lorentz force 56 will act to push the conductor members 20, 52 away
from each other. Thus, the second enforcing Lorentz force 56 may
directly act on the contact sub-assembly as a further amplifying
contact force 25. To keep FIG. 7 simple, the by-product Lorentz
force 42 generated between the conductor members 22, 34 and 52 is
omitted in FIG. 7.
[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the deflectable conductor
member 20 is a joint conductor member 38 of the Lorentz force
generator 18, of the first support Lorentz force generator 32 as
well as of the second support Lorentz force generator 54.
[0047] The illustrated embodiments of the electric switch 1
according to the invention may be further defined by adding
additional conductor members constituting further support Lorentz
force generators, which may further amplify the contact force
biasing the contact sub-assembly 6 in the connecting position 12.
In this way, a compact electric switch 1 generating a very high
contact force 25 biasing the contact sub-assembly 6 in the
connecting position 12 may be provided.
[0048] Advantageously, incorporating multiple Lorentz force
generators allows for the electric switch of the invention to
sustain a connection between the terminals, even under a high
current. The use of a joint conductor member in the electric switch
of the invention reduces the total number of conductor members in
the Lorentz force generators, which makes the construction of the
electric switch easier and reduces the conductor material, and
cost, of such an electric switch. Furthermore, the parallel
orientation of the conductor members minimizes the spatial
requirements for placing the conductor members and allows for a
compact construction of the electric switch. The electric switch
according to the invention is also reliable over many switching
cycles because the generation of a Lorentz force does not lead to
mechanic abrasion or other wear at the conductor members.
* * * * *